How to Achieve Success as a Screenwriter
Screenwriting is a competitive trade. To distinguish yourself as a prize-winning writer you need to master organizational skills, take creative risks, and learn how best to present your final product. For the aspiring screenwriter, Tom Lazarus’ book, “Secrets of Film Writing” is one of the best. An exceptional screenwriter with five produced screenplays, Lazarus developed this book for beginning writers enrolled in his classes at UCLA.
This article examines a few of the many techniques outlined in “Secrets of Film Writing” and provides examples of screenwriters who succeeded with Tom Lazarus’ guidelines.
ORGANIZATION IS KEY
Master organization and you’re closer to producing a stellar screenplay, not a mediocre one. Ask yourself these questions:
1) Does the screenplay have a clear beginning,